Consumer protection watchdog eyes soaring  fruit prices

In Merca Panama, the largest agricultural market in the volume of products offered has fallen and prices have climbed especially in citrus, highly sought after as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The few consumers visiting the market, some with masks and gloves to avoid coronavirus infections, are mainly looking for orange, lemon, ginger, and tangerine, without losing sight of the vegetables, legumes and basic grains. reports La Prensa.

The price of a sack of oranges went from $5.00 to $ 12.00 and $15.00. Lemons are, in some stalls, at 10 units for $1.00. In others, 5 units are found for $ 1.00.

Tangerines rose from  $1 dollar for a  12-unit bag  to $1.00 for  5 tangerines/

Merchants using  gloves to dispatch products and carry out money transactions with retailer buyers   to avoid physical contact

Jorge Quintero, general administrator of the consumer Protection Authority  (Acodeco), said that they have detected many sales positions with no prices in sight and this lends itself to speculation.

 He said that merchants involved  in this bad practice will be punished with “exemplary fines “

Law 45 establishes fines from $500 to $25,000 for not having prices in sight, Quintero said.